Stand for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

A stand for an electronic device includes a front plate having a channel at a bottom edge thereof for accepting an edge of an electronic device therein, a back plate hingedly connected to the front plate, and a pair of arms extending from opposed sides of the front plate. The arms are adjustable so as to vary a distance between distal ends of the arms to accommodate the electronic device therebetween.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to stands, holders and supportsdesigned to display electronic devices for easy viewing and, moreparticularly, to a desktop-integrated stand for a tablet computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stands and supports that allow readers of conventional books to placetheir reading material at a comfortable reading level and preventeyestrain and fatigue of the neck, arms and hands are known. With theincreasing availability and widespread use of electronic books, smartphones and tablet computers, however, stands for these devices are indemand. In particular, many schools throughout the country are nowutilizing tablet computers as teaching devices in the classroom. Tabletcomputers in the classroom can be cumbersome to use, are prone tosliding off of desks resulting in damage, and can be difficult to holdand maintain at proper viewing angles during use.

In view of the above, there is a need for a stand for a tablet computerand other electronic devices that can be integrated with a desk, whichis easy to use, and which allows a user to maintain such tablet computeror electronic device in a comfortable and convenient viewing position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device that is integrated with a desk.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device that prevents such device from sliding off of a desk.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device that is moveable between a stowed position off of thesurface of a desk and an extended, ‘use’ position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device that supports such electronic device in either ahorizontal or vertical position.

It is another object of the present invention provide a stand for anelectronic device that can accommodate electronic devices of varioussizes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for anelectronic device that is ergonomic.

A stand for an electronic device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes a front plate having a channel at a bottomedge thereof for accepting an edge of an electronic device therein, aback plate hingedly connected to the front plate, and a pair of armsextending from opposed sides of the front plate. The arms are adjustableso as to vary a distance between distal ends of the arms to accommodatethe electronic device therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from reading thefollowing description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to theattached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand for anelectronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-12 are various views of the desk and integrated stand of FIG. 1showing the stand in various positions.

FIG. 13 is a partially exploded view of the stand according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of guide members of the desk andintegrated stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supportingan electronic device in a stowed position.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supportingan electronic device in a vertical orientation and in an extended, ‘use’position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supportingan electronic device in a horizontal orientation and in an extended,‘use’ position.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the integrated stand supporting anelectronic device in a vertical orientation and in an extended, ‘use’position.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the integrated stand supporting anelectronic device in a horizontal orientation and in an extended, ‘use’position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a desk 10 having an integrated stand 12for an electronic device is shown. As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, the stand12 includes a front plate 14 and a back plate 16 that are connected toone another via a living hinge 18. The front plate 14 and back plate 16are generally rectangular in shape. The back plate 16 is longer,however, than the front plate 14, and has flared or outstandingprojections 19 at the bottom thereof that aid in coupling the stand tothe desk 10. The front plate also includes a pair of feet 20 thatcontact a support surface, such as desk 10, and that generally define apair of channels 22 for receiving the bottom edge of, and retaining, anelectronic device, as discussed in detail hereinafter.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the front plate 14 also includes a pair ofadjustable retaining arms 24 that extend from the sides of the frontplate 14. The arms 24 are slidably connected to the front plate 24 andextendable generally horizontally therefrom, by means known in the art.For example the retaining arms may be housed in a guide channel (notshown) in or attached to the back of the front plate 14. The arms 24 aremanually extendable from a narrow position, as shown in FIG. 6, in whichthe distance between the distal ends of the arms 24 is generally thesame width as the front plate 14, to an extended position, as shown inFIG. 5, in which the distance between the distal ends of the arms 24 ismuch greater than the width of the front plate 14. The distal ends ofthe retaining arms 24 define a channel similar to channel 22 of feet 20for receiving and retaining the edges of an electronic device, asdiscussed in detail hereinafter. Importantly, the adjustable arms 24allow the stand to be customized to support electronic devices ofvarious sizes, and in multiple orientations.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front plate 14 and back plate 16 maybe connected at their respective centers by a tether 26. As will bereadily appreciated, the tether 26 prevents the ‘opening’ biasing actionof the living hinge 18 from separating the front and back plates 14, 16to an excessive degree. In particular, the tether 26 maintains anoptimum angle at the hinge 18 between the front plate 14 and back plate16 so that an electronic device supported by the stand 12 is maintainedin a comfortable and convenient viewing position.

In an embodiment, the stand 12 may be manufactured from plastic,although other materials known in the art may also be utilized.

The manner in which the stand 12 is secured to a desk 10 will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 8 and 10-14. As showntherein, the desk 10 includes a cut-away portion 40 at the front edgethereof (opposite where a user sits). In other embodiments, the cut-awayportion may be omitted. A generally rectangular pocket 42 is secured tothe desk 10 in the area of the cut-away portion 40 by means known in theart, such as through the use of screws, rivets and the like. In thepreferred embodiment, the pocket 42 is open at both ends to prevent theaccumulation of dust and debris therein.

Movement of the stand 12 in an out of the pocket 42 is regulated by railslides 44. These rail slides are best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. As shownin FIG. 11, the rail slides 44 are secured to the rear wall of thepocket 42. The projections 19 of the back plate 16 are engaged with therail slides 44 such that the back plate 16 may translate upwards ordownwards within the rail slides 44. The rail slides 44 also includeposition stops 46 at the top thereof that limit the upwards travel ofthe back plate 16, thereby preventing the stand 12 from being separatedfrom the desk 10. In particular, as the stand 12 is drawn upwards fromthe pocket 42, the projections 19 travel within the rail slides 44 untilthe projections 19 contact the position stops 46.

By traveling within the rail slides 44, the stand 12 may be transitionedfrom a stowed position within the pocket 42, as shown in FIGS. 10-12,and a ‘use’ or extended position, as shown in FIGS. 1-9, in which thefront plate 14 is at an optimum viewing angle for a user.

In operation, the stand 12 may be in a stowed position within the pocket42 of the desk. A user may grasp the stand 12 in the area of the livinghinge 18 and pull the stand 12 from the pocket 42. When the feet 20 ofthe front plate 14 clear the top surface of the desk 10, the biasingforce of the living hinge 18 causes the front plate to automaticallyrotate forward, towards a user, about hinge 18. As discussed above, thisrotation is limited by tether 26. Moreover, as discussed above, upwardstravel of the stand 12 from the pocket is limited by position stops 46in the rail slides 44. As will be readily appreciated, in use, a usermust simply pull upwards on the stand 12 until the feet 20 of the frontplate clear the edge of the desk 10, and the stand 12 will automaticallyposition itself in proper position (i.e., such that an optimum angle ofthe front plate 14 in relation to a user is realized).

Once in this position, a user may place an electronic device, such as atablet computer 50 on the stand 12 such that the bottom edge of thetable computer is engaged with channels 22 of feet 20. A user may thenadjust the retaining arms 24 such that the channels in the retainingarms engage the respective sides of the electronic device 50.Importantly, by adjusting the retaining arms 24, the electronic devicemay be retained in either a vertical orientation on the stand 12, asshown in FIGS. 16 and 18, or in a horizontal /landscape orientation, asshown in FIGS. 17 and 19. In addition, as discussed above, theadjustable retaining arms 24 permit electronic devices of varying sizesto be accommodated on the stand 12. Notably, the position of the feet 20and retaining arms 24 does not inhibit access to functional buttons,such as the power button and ‘home’ button of the electronic device 50.

After the electronic device 50 has been properly oriented on the stand12, such that it is held in place by the channels in the feet 20 andretaining arms 42, the electronic device 50 is at an optimum viewingangle and key striking position for a user. After use, a user may removethe electronic device 50 from the stand 12 and push the bottom of thefront plate 14 such that the front plate 14 folds against the back plate16 and the feet 20 clear the edge of the desk 10. Once the feet 20 clearthe edge of the desk 10 the 12 stand can freely drop into its stowedposition within the pocket 42. Alternatively, the electronic device 50can be left in position on the stand 12 and both the stand 12 and theelectronic device 50 stowed in the pocket 42 in the same manner, asshown in FIG. 15.

In an embodiment, the electronic device 50 is a tablet computer, such asan iPad®, etc., although the stand of the present invention may beutilized with other electronic devices without departing from thebroader aspects of the present invention.

As will be readily appreciated, the desk 10 and stand 12 for anelectronic device of the present invention is user friendly and can beused by a wide range of students from pre-school to college, as well asin other training or instructional environments. Importantly, the stand12 secures the electronic device thereto in a manner such that it cannottumble out and be damaged, and is designed to be ergonomic. The stand 12is also designed such that a user may quickly and easily change theorientation of the electronic device, as desired.

Notably, the desk and stand combination reduces the use of paperproducts by making electronic devices easier to use in the classroom,and provides technology to a student's fingertips in the classroom, thuseliminating the need for dedicated computer labs or workstations.

Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to thedetailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill inthe art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of theinvention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand for an electronic device, comprising: afront plate having a channel at a bottom edge thereof for accepting anedge of said electronic device therein; a back plate hingedly connectedto said front plate; and a pair of arms extending from opposed sides ofsaid front plate, said arms being adjustable so as to vary a distancebetween distal ends of said arms to accommodate said electronic devicetherebetween.
 2. The stand of claim 1, wherein: said back plate isslidably connected to a desk.
 3. The stand of claim 1, wherein: saidback plate is hingedly connected to said front plate via a living hinge.4. The stand of claim 2, wherein: said front plate includes a pair offeet, said feet defining said channel for retaining said edge of saidelectronic device.
 5. The stand of claim 1, wherein: said pair of armsare slidably connected to said front plate.
 6. The stand of claim 4,wherein: said front plate is foldable substantially against said blackplate; and wherein said stand is movable from an extended position inwhich said feet are supported on a surface of said desk, to a stowedposition in which said front plate is folded against said back plate andsaid stand is generally below a surface of said desk.
 7. The stand ofclaim 6, wherein: said desk includes a pocket for accommodating saidstand therein when in said stowed position.
 8. The stand of claim ofclaim 5, wherein: each of said arms include a channel at said distal endthereof for receiving an edge of said electronic device.
 9. The stand ofclaim 1, further comprising: a tether connected to said front plate andsaid back plate and configured to limit travel of a lower edge of saidfront plate with respect to a lower edge of said back plate.
 10. Thestand of claim 1, wherein: said front plate and said back plate areplastic.
 11. A desktop-integrated stand for an electronic device,comprising: a desk; a pocket secured to said desk adjacent to afront-edge thereof; and a stand slidably connected to said pocket andmovable between a stowed position substantially within said pocket andan extended position on a surface of said desk, said stand including afront plate, a back plate hingedly connected to said front plate, and apair of arms extending from opposed sides of said front plate.
 12. Thedesktop-integrated stand of claim 11, wherein: said arms are adjustableso as to vary a distance between distal ends of said arms to accommodatesaid electronic device therebetween.
 13. The desktop-integrated stand ofclaim 12, wherein: said distal ends of said arms define a channelconfigured to receive opposed edges of said electronic device.
 14. Thedesktop-integrated stand of claim 11, wherein: said arms are slidablyconnected to said front plate.
 15. The desktop-integrated stand of claim11, wherein: said front plate includes a foot for supporting said standon said surface of said desk, said foot defining a channel for receivingan edge of said electronic device.
 16. The desktop-integrated stand ofclaim 11, said back plate is hingedly connected to said front plate viaa living hinge.
 17. The desktop-integrated stand of claim 11, furthercomprising: a tether connected to said front plate and said back plateand configured to limit travel of a lower edge of said front plate withrespect to a lower edge of said back plate.
 18. The desktop-integratedstand of claim 11, wherein: said front plate and said back plate areformed from plastic.
 19. A stand, comprising: a front plate having achannel at a bottom edge thereof for accepting an edge of an electronicdevice therein; and a back plate hingedly connected to said front plate;wherein said stand is configured to selectively support said electronicdevice in both a vertical orientation and a landscape orientation.